Nebraska's
Perfectly Peculiar People

Each state has its share of wonderfully
wacky, unique, and downright fabulous people. Here are a few of ours.

Miles Maryott, born in Burt County in 1873,
played professional baseball during his youth. He later became
a taxidermist, artist, marksman, and outdoorsman. In 1927 he
was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Oshkosh, Nebraska,
marshal George Albee. Maryott continued painting behind bars,
producing works such as "Flying Ducks," completed in
1932. He gave his creations to people he liked or wanted to thank,
and also used them to barter for goods and services. After discovering
he had a terminal illness, Maryott was freed shortly before his
death in September 1939. Source: Nebraska State Historical
Society Foundation. 10220-93

Edward Harden, a Georgian appointed to the Nebraska Territorial
Supreme Court in 1854, looks both ridiculous and uncomfortable
in this Indian costume. So much for judicial dignity! Source: Nebraska State Historical
Society RG2411-2134

Cecil Wadlow of Lincoln and an unidentified man are pictured
with Cecil's nephew, Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever
lived. Robert, of Alton, Illinois, reached the height of 8' 11"
due to a glandular disorder. Robert was only twelve when this
photo was taken in Lincoln in 1930. Source: Nebraska State Historical
Society RG2183-1930-0908-2

Emery Blagdon, Nebraska native and former hobo, was considered
just another eccentric bachelor when he died in 1986. Few of
his neighbors knew that, for thirty years, Blagdon had been creating
a masterpiece of folk art in his dilapidated Sand Hills farm
shed. The collection consisted of nearly one hundred paintings
and about four hundred and fifty wire sculptures, embellished
with wood, ribbon, beads, tin, and plastic. His work filled every
corner of the 800-square-foot shed and was illuminated by twinkling
Christmas lights. Blagdon believed that his pieces created an
electromagnetic field that could treat various diseases. When
asked to explain, he would simply say, "I don't know why,
it just works." Source: Loaned by Dan Dryden,
New York

In August of 1867 Union Pacific railroad worker William Thompson
was attacked by a band of Cheyenne Indians, scalped, and left
for dead. Reviving from the attack and retrieving his scalp,
which the Indians had dropped, Thompson made it to Omaha with
the scalp in a bucket of water. Doctors were unable to reattach
the scalp, and it was eventually donated to the Omaha Public
Library, where it was displayed for many years. Source: Nebraska State Historical
Society RG2411-5587b,c

Famed explorer Henry M. Stanley saw Thompson
on the train to Omaha: "His scalp, about nine inches in
length and four in width, somewhat resembled a drowned rat as
it floated curled up on the water." Stanley, My Early
Travels and Adventures in America and Asia (1895). Source: Nebraska State Historical
Society RG2411-5587a

Frances G. Reinehr's 1989 book tells the true
story of long-time Lincoln resident Mary Partington, who became
known as "Bloody Mary." Mary's old-fashioned dress
and her house with no electricity caught the attention of area
teenagers, who made a sport out of taunting and harassing her.
Mary received her cruel nickname after shooting and killing a
youth who attempted to break into her house. She was not charged
with a crime on the grounds of self-defense. Source: Loaned by Dale Bacon,
Lincoln

Abbott the Magician
cutting off a woman's head

David P. Abbott was born in 1863 near
Falls City and lived most of his life in Omaha. Although Abbott
was a businessman, he was best known as an amateur magician,
investigator of paranormal claims, author, and inventor of the
"talking teakettle," an illusionist's trick. Most of
his performances were held in his home, and many influential
magicians were known to visit him. Abbott's Behind the Scenes
with the Mediums (1916) exposed the tricks used by mediums,
many of whom were located in eastern Nebraska. Sources: Nebraska State Historical
Society Library Collection, 133/Ab2b; RG0813-683

News
article"Mother of two weighs but 37 pounds"
Source: The World Herald,
Omaha